A chaotic and violent brawl erupted in Turkey’s parliament on Friday after a member of an opposition party labeled the ruling party a “terrorist organization.” 

The altercation began when a member of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s party confronted Ahmet Sik, a member of the Workers’ Party of Turkey, who had made the “terrorist” allegation. Sik’s party is known for advocating for jailed individuals believed to be imprisoned for political reasons. 

“We’re not surprised that you call Can Atalay a terrorist, just as you do everyone who does not side with you,” Sik said during his speech. “But the biggest terrorists are the ones sitting in these seats.” 

The situation quickly escalated, with dozens of lawmakers engaging in the brawl, exchanging punches, throwing papers, and attempting to separate the fighting parties. 

A female lawmaker was injured during the scuffle, with blood splattering on the parliamentary podium. 

“It is a shameful situation,” Ozgur Ozel, leader of the Republican People’s Party, the largest opposition party, told The Associated Press. “Instead of words flying in the air, fists are flying. There is blood on the ground. They are hitting women.”

The Turkish Grand National Assembly was debating the case of Can Atalay, who was elected as a parliamentary deputy in May 2023 while incarcerated for his alleged involvement in the 2013 protests challenging Erdoğan’s rule. 

Atalay, sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2022 for his role in the protests, seeks to serve his term in parliament, asserting he would return to prison after his tenure. 

His presence in parliament would grant him immunity from prosecution. 

In an August 1 ruling, the Constitutional Court declared the decision to bar Atalay from taking his seat in parliament “null and void” after parliament stripped him of his position. 

This marked the Constitutional Court’s third ruling in Atalay’s favor, but lower courts have consistently disregarded its decisions. 

International organizations have condemned the imprisonment and sentencing of Atalay and others, including philanthropist Osman Kavala, as arbitrary and politically motivated. 

“Atalay’s personal freedom and security, as well as his right to be elected, which the Constitutional Court ruled to have been violated, should be restored,” Amnesty International’s Turkey office stated on social media on Friday. 

Parliament resumed its session three hours later, with Sik and the lawmaker who attacked him receiving reprimands from the parliament’s speaker.